Prayer: Dear Lord, we are glad your presence is not a secret to us. We can find you if we only look. Thank you. Amen
Reading: Mark 7: 24-27 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Jesus had just gotten done dealing with the Pharisees and teachers of the law. He had just gotten done explaining about what is clean and unclean. Jesus the man just wanted to be alone so he left town. He went to a house in Tyre and did not want anyone to know it. Yet, he could not keep his presence a secret. Word got out to one woman who must have been waiting, watching and listening for him. As soon as she heard, she was there to find Jesus. It took being on the lookout, persistent and faithful, but she got what she wanted. Today, Jesus the Savior does not keep his presence a secret from us. But, if he did, would we be on the lookout, persistent and faithful? Keep looking. Jesus is here for us. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper
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Prayer: When you speak, O Lord, help me to listen.
Reading: Acts 16:6-10 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: My career as a pastor has included four calls before retirement and a few more “calls” after retirement. God always seems to have something for me to do. I am pretty sure that God and I agreed on a few of those calls. A couple of them, maybe I was more convinced than God! In any case, there are times when we are led to new places and new ventures. What “voice” or nudge does God use to get us where the Lord wants us to be? Probably different “voices” for each of us and different “voices” for us at different times of our lives. Listen to God’s voice; however, it comes to you. Be convinced that what you do and where you do it, God has called you to proclaim the good news. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff. Prayer: Heavenly Father, continue to teach us your ways so that we might know your righteousness. Amen. Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to see our faith as one of learning and action. Amen.
Reading: James 1:17-27 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Sometimes our study of scripture leads us down some very hard discussions. In this case it comes from James, because it shows us that our faith is more than merely listening and bettering our own lives. When I was in seminary, my fellow students seemed to have an aversion to James because James called us to action. You see, James tells us that we are to "be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves." Many of my classmates didn't like this since they thought it was saying that we needed to do something to earn our right to be Christians. I have come to learn that when we have faith that is truly alive, we want to act out that faith. We believe in Jesus Christ, so what now? We act out our faith. This happens in loving, caring, Christian conversations in our work and home lives. This happens in helping the needy at the food bank. This happens in so many other ways that cause us to think about others before ourselves. How are you putting your faith into action? How does what you believe show to others? --Peter Horn, Camp Mount Luther Board Member and Summer Camp Pastor Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach us to view your world with the same love that you view it! Amen.
Reading: Song of Solomon 2:8-13 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: God's creation is a wonderous thing! Go on your favorite hike, come to camp, see the creation outside your window, but too often we don't see past our blinders. We go about our days with our vision fixed on our own schedule and on our own families. We have our check lists to finish before we can do anything else or enjoy anything else. Yet here is Solomon's song calling us back to love. Love like we might have known as a teenager so impassioned by love and desire that we can think of no other. Love like a parent for their child when they are born. Love like a child for their parent at the moment of their parent's death. That is how God views us, in love, in desire, and in all. As springtime is described in Song of Solomon, we can see God's love for creation and God's love for us. We are called to that same love for all. --Peter Horn, Camp Mount Luther Board Member and Summer Camp Pastor Prayer: Heavenly Father, help our hearts and minds to be set on you so that our words and actions may be for your glory. Amen.
Reading: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Every youth group I start with lighting a candle and distributing bread to show that our time together is lit by Christ and that we gather around Christ's table in all that we do at youth group. Last week we had a sleep over at the church and the youth demanded that I start our time together with lighting a candle and eating bread before we do anything else. It was wonderful as a leader to see the practices that I was trying to instill in others actually taking hold. The youth love this practice and never want to miss it. My hope however is that it doesn't become a meaning less tradition. That's what Jesus is facing in gospel of Mark. The Pharisees and the scribes are accusing the disciples of not practicing Jewish law. These are laws that were good and useful, we still use some of them today! "Wash your hands before dinner," a usual chorus from parents. But the Pharisees and scribes were doing the traditions for the wrong reasons, so they could show that they were holier than everyone else, not to glorify God. How are your traditions in your church or faith life glorifying God? If they aren't glorifying God, would you know that they aren't? How can they change so that God may be glorified? --Peter Horn, Camp Mount Luther Board Member and Summer Camp Pastor Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for giving me the opportunity to be productive. Amen
Reading: Proverbs 6:6-11 Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Don’t you just love that translation? Go to the ant, you lazybones. I don’t imagine that “lazybones” really applies to any of us. But this bit of wisdom gives all of us opportunity to think about work. (Even in retirement most of us are still very productive!!) Hopefully, most days it’s not just a job that you do, but actually something that you enjoy. The mug says, “Do what you like, like what you do.” God give us the opportunity to be productive, to do work that benefits others and hopefully makes the world a better place. So, today as you go about your business, be reminded that God is with you, encouraging you to do good work. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: God, help me remember you are with me wherever I go. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 84 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. Psalm 84: 10a There is a line in Billy Joel's song, Piano Man, -..."but there's someplace that he'd rather be." In this case, it is the bartender who wishes he could be in Hollywood. He's sure he could be a movie star. The Psalmist knows the best place to be. Better is one day in (the LORD's) courts than a thousand elsewhere! In fact, just being a doorkeeper in the house of God and not even in the door is better than being inside the tents of the wicked even if it is raining. (Some interpretation added.) Where would you rather be or are you there? Remember, no matter where you go, God is in your heart. Dwell in the LORD as the LORD dwells in you. Where else would you rather be? --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Dear God, I pray that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I may fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Amen
Reading: Ephesians 6: 10-20 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The prayer above is actually what Paul asked the Ephesians to pray for him in verse 19 in the text for today. Paul, who had so much to say, asked the people of the church to pray that whenever he opened his mouth, words would be given to him that he might fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. What a good idea! Whenever you open your mouth, speak good news. That's not to say every conversation must be about Christ crucified and risen. Every interaction does not need to be "churchy". Surely even Paul had time for small talk about nothing special. Still, all words spoken can come from a spirit of faith, a mind set on hope and a heart of love. From there, a long conversation be a positive sharing of the ordinary stuff of life. A chat in the grocery store can be moments of care and gratitude. A one word greeting with a genuine smile can brighten a day. Fearlessly making known the mystery of the gospel is sometimes in the wonder of the listener - "Where does that faith, hope and love come from?" It's a mystery. It's Good News! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Heavenly Father, we worship you always and in all sorts of places. May our hearts always turn towards you and when you hear our prayers, forgive.
Reading: I Kings 8: 22-30, 41-43 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Solomon built the Temple, brought the Ark to the Temple and, in our verses today, dedicates the Temple. It is a wonderful prayer of God’s promises, love and forgiveness. The Temple surely is amazing yet Solomon admits in verse 27, “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built.” Where do we worship? What temples have we built? All summer, worship at Camp has been outside. Well, except for when it is raining, of course. Now, all have gone back to their places of worship at home or at school. Wherever we worship, we ask God to, “Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” (v. 30). --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Alleluia! Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Reading: John 6: 56-69 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: In my Bible, the headings for the sections of John 6 go like this: Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand, Jesus Walks on Water, Jesus the Bread of Life and Many Disciples Desert Jesus. Wait! What? Things were going so well and then, Bam!, many said, "We're outta here!" What happened? Where are you going? Well, that is how it goes sometimes and Jesus even saw it coming. He knew there was some grumbling going on. "Does this offend you?" he asks. Many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (vs. 61, 66). What does follow this are Simon Peter's familiar words, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (v. 68) Add an alleluia to the beginning of Simon Peter's response and two more at the end and you have what we sing before the gospel reading each week in worship. Perhaps when we are grumbling and thinkiung of turning away, we ought to say these words in prayer and then read some Good News! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Thanks, Creator, for bald eagles. Amen
Reading: Psalm 91 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The last week of summer camp we had the privilege of the presence of a bald eagle floating and soaring over us. Wow! What a sight that is. This was in addition to seeing several does with their fawns this summer, a black bear, snakes and who knows how many squirrels and chipmunks. So many of God’s critters live in this marvelous place! But, the bald eagle. Wow! I’m hoping that there is a nesting pair somewhere nearby. The psalmist assures us that those of us who live in the shelter of the Most High, who take refuge in and trust God will be gathered under his wings. Isaiah adds this image, but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles. (40:31). So, for today--Just the image of a great soaring bald eagle. And the words of a hymn: And he will raise you up on eagle’s wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand. (ELW 787) --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff _Prayer: Praise to you, awesome LORD!...To you belongs eternal praise. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 111 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This is a great Psalm. One more of those "go to" Psalms for when you just want to praise the Lord but don't want to come up with your own words at the moment. This one works. However, I do put in one word of my own. Being the scaredy-cat that I am, verse 10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..." does not always set well. I do not need one more thing to fear. Aren't there enough spiders already? Really! Thankfully, somewhere along the way I heard a sermon about the fear of the LORD as similar to being in awe of the LORD. Oh, am I so glad I was there that Sunday! So I rephrase verse 10 - Being in awe of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom... And seeing as the verse just claims awesome is his name, it even flows well and seems just right. Praise the awesome LORD! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Dear God, fill us with your Spirit so we may always be giving thanks to you. Remind us to sing it! Amen
Reading: Ephesians 5: 15-20 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. --Ephesians 5: 19 I heard there was a day at camp when everything said at mealtimes had to be sung. What a great idea! I forget exactly why Camp Mount Luther did it but Paul told the Ephesians to speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, too. Obviously it must be a good idea. But, why? I wish I had been at camp that day. Maybe I would know. Perhaps everyone paid more attention to each other as the table talk was certainly more entertaining. Maybe there wasn't a lot of interrupting as that would just ruin a train of thought, or in this case, tune. There probably wasn't a lot of "talking" at the same time. Try singing a song while someone else is singing a different song. That's pretty hard to do! Certainly, given the extra effort needed, the topics shared were more thought out than usual. Not a lot of mindless jibber jabber. Of course, even small talk about the weather could almost become operatic, grandly heightening our awareness of God's creation and the forces of nature. All joining in on grateful refrains about the sunny day or bonding in hopeful prayer song that it would not rain tomorrow. Now that I think of it, Paul and CML, really did have a good idea! When we are filled with the Spirit, our words are music to the ear as we are always giving thanks to God. Sing it! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Heavenly Father, give us understanding that we may be able discern good and evil in our lives. Amen.
Reading: 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: What do you pray for? Health for a family member? The good outcome of a tenuous situation for a friend? Well here sits a child praying for understanding to lead and govern a whole people. Solomon began his ministry as a child, needing the help of others to guide him. He could have gone only to those advisors but he didn't. He went to the greatest advisor he had and we have. He went to God. Yet the amazing thing here is that he didn't ask for the selfish things like comfort and riches for himself. Instead he asked for the wisdom and understanding to guide. Then he received so much more, that being long life. Solomon did the faithful thing of asking for the power to help others. So how are our prayers focused on others rather than ourselves? How are we asking wisely to receive understanding so others may see God through us? --Peter Horn, Camp Mount Luther Board Member and Summer Camp Pastor Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind us of the power of being in your family, the body of Christ. Amen.
Reading: John 6:51-58 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: When I first read this text I thought of zombies and vampires, eating flesh and drinking blood. So we can understand the Jews issue that they took with Jesus. That is unclean! Even today that still goes against nature and we know what illnesses can come from it. So perhaps we should think about it a different way. Like many other mothers, my mom used the "you are what you eat" line. This was usually in reference to my brothers and I eating some sort of junk food instead of our vegetables. Mom was right however that we needed to eat certain foods so they would help us to grow up well. Eating only chocolate for a day or a week might sound good to some but we know that will not help us grow well. Here is Jesus, urging us to grow well. "Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life" (verse 54). This flesh and blood is found in Holy Communion in the bread and wine, the body and blood of Jesus Christ. In the meal of Communion, we are what we eat. Not that we ourselves individually become Jesus but Jesus becomes a part of us as we become a part of the body of Christ. We are connected to Jesus. We are connected to all those who take communion. We are connected to God so that we can do the work of bearing Jesus to the world --Peter Horn, Camp Mount Luther Board Member and Summer Camp Pastor Prayer: Help us, O Lord, we pray, to do your will today.
Reading: The Lord Now Sends Us Forth (ELW 538) The Lord now sends us forth with hands to serve and give, to make of all the earth a better place to live. The angels are not sent into our world of pain to do what we were meant to do in Jesus’ name; that falls to you and me and all who are made free, Help us, O Lord, we pray, to do your will today. Reflection: Today and tomorrow are bitter-sweet for me. Tonight we do our celebrating as a summer staff. Tomorrow we have our last meal together, worship and go home. It’s bitter, because the 17 of us have formed a close intentional Christian community and I will miss these friends. It is also sweet—after ten weeks at camp, I’m ready to be at home. Another thing that makes these two days sweet is that I know that this staff will continue to do the loving, caring, faithful things I have experienced from them here this summer. And they will do it in all sorts of places: home, college, and everywhere they go. They will continue to make of all the earth a better place to live. One day this week I was watching the pick-a-day-campers get ready to go home for the day. There were some parents hanging around as the campers sang some songs. I saw one mother singing, clapping and swaying right along. I smiled and realized that she is an alumni staff. Then I wondered as I often do, how many people influenced by the ministry of Camp Mount Luther are out there with hands to serve and give. I invite you to join us today and everyday. Help us O Lord to join with the many others who are making all the earth a better place to live. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff August 6, 2015: Depths
Prayer: Lord, hear my cry. Amen Reading: Psalm 130 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Out of the depths--what depths? Pain, despair, anger, sadness, sin, prejudice, hatred, frustration, grief, fear, loathing, … ?? The psalmist doesn’t say what the depths are. Rather, whatever the depth, we cry to the Lord and what do we find? Forgiveness, steadfast love and power to redeem. Thus we have an answer to the depths from which we cry—hope. Hope in the Lord. So, what has you down today? God is there to hear your voice. Wait for the Lord. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Lord, we with me as I try to be kinder, tenderhearted, and forgiving. Amen.
Reading: Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Ephesians 4:32 is an old camp song that I learned when I was a youngster. “Be ye kind, one unto another; tenderhearted, forgiving one another; even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you. Doo-doo-doodley-doo. Ephesians 4:32.” (If you know it, I hope you sang along!) Wow! Another scripture this week that we are reminded that God gave up his son for us. It may seem overkill to be reminded of that each day, but maybe it’s a good idea. So often, the very foundations of our faith we take for granted. But should we? I also like that this verse reminds us that we need to be kind to one another. And forgiving. This summer, we’ve been talking about how God forgives us and how we should forgive others. At one point in our discussions about this, someone told us that he knows someone who, when someone says “I’m sorry” to him, replies, “I forgive you.” When I think of that story I am reminded of the power of forgiveness and the power of the cross. Who do you need to be kind to today? Who do you need to forgive? Go do it! Doo-doo-doodely-doo. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Thank you, God, for taking on our pain. Amen.
Reading: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: In the final verse of our passage today, a father wishes that he could take the place of his child, who was killed. Being a father, when I see my children in pain, I often wish I could take that pain away from them and give it to me. In my mind, I feel I can handle it more than they can and could keep them from experiencing it. One night, when my son was crying when we was cutting teeth, I had these thoughts. And it struck me that what God did for us in Jesus is just like that. God loved us so much that God was willing to take on the pain of sin and death so that we would not have to take on that pain. Take time today to think about God’s ultimate sacrifice for you. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on May 10, 2013.
Prayer: Help us, Lord, to do something for you today and to be fed by you. Amen. Reading: John 6: 35-51 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: What have you eaten today? If you are reading this in the morning, you probably have not had much. But, if you are reading this in the evening, you probably have had your share of meals for the day. Every day we put much into our bodies. Jesus tells us that He is the bread of life. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever. Shouldn't we live our lives for Him? After all, He is the one who give us eternal life. Just some food for thought. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Read the passage again, and then jot down how you will live your life for Jesus. |
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